Lara Dutta: The Old School Girl

Good news is Lara Dutta is the Old School girl and you wouldn’t need new rules of dating for her. The bad news is she’s spoken for.

Lara Dutta’s eyes widen for two very long seconds; she gasps as her engagement ring slips out from her publicist’s hand and falls to the floor. And then she smiles.

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We’re shooting at Rockstar Yogi Photographer (equal parts of all three) Suresh Natrajan’s sea-facing studio. And by shooting we mean, they’re shooting, we’re hanging around trying our damnest best to look nonchalant, to make conversation and crack jokes. And failing miserably in all three.

Half an hour later…Lunch is being ordered – Chinese. But all Lara wants to eat is a Misal Pav. Our crush gets bigger.

Two days before the shoot the world (at least the guys perma-logged into Twitter) heard of her engagement to Hesh, we did too, made hyperventilating phone calls and were assured the shoot was still on. So this would technically be her first shoot after engagement. Our feelings are a mix of dejection and joy.

Congratulations, we read about your engagement.

Thank you…Twitter works, doesn’t it? What you guys write will have to be restricted to those 140 characters, it’s more controlled. (We just sigh…she’s not changed yet, is wearing a maxi dress, no makeup and her hair tied-back in a small ’tail and chappals)

So c’mon how did he do it? Maybe we can take some tips for professional reasons of course…

Ha ha. Yes. But, I’m not divulging any details. I’ve always been very clear about that. I have been saying that I’d talking on this topic when I feel the time is right. Even earlier when there were speculations about Mahesh and I dating, I kept quiet because I’m not one of those who will go and scream from a rooftop “I’m dating”, “I’m dating”. I think it’s very…

…College?

Yeah.

So, let’s change gears here – we’re running a mammoth package about the New Rules of Dating this issue…what sort of girl are you?

I’m old-fashioned. A guy has to ask me out.

I know the rules of a relationship have changed. People are OK with going on a lot of dates before they commit. But I don’t buy this whole testing-the -waters thing. If you like someone enough to go out on 15 dates, then obviously you are dating him.

If not, after three dates you know whether you’re interested or not…otherwise it’s a waste of time. You should say ‘thank you very much, bye’. I don’t get this whole come-on let’s go out on a date or get dinner for the heck of it.

Hmm…Ok, so let’s change gears again. What’s an ideal Sunday? Breakfast in bed? Eggs – Scrambled or fried?

Sorry. For me, Sundays are days to sleep in late. Breakfast always ends up becoming brunch with family. I have two nieces in Mumbai, who have to be met for sure…plus I’m a huge movie buff so you’d probably find me at one of the PVRs or INOX. Both Mahesh and I love Sundays.

So you do couple things on Sundays?

He loves watching TV, I don’t. I love books, he doesn’t. So Sundays, when he’s not touring, are spent somewhere between him watching TV and me reading a book…together. (She laughs)

We like books…what’s on the nightstand right now?

I’m reading a book called Hunter Games I picked for my niece from the teenage section. It’s about a female gladiator…so it works just super for me (laughs). I love The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough…and then there is of course Bill Bryson...I read three books together.

Ok, we don’t want to ask you when you are getting married, because we’re sure someone somewhere on the Net is already speculating about it and what curtains you’ll get…but do you want to take some time off…get a dog?

Ha ha. Honestly, I have three dogs and I’m not getting anymore. Plus, there is a whole lot of work – there’s Don 2, there is my own home production and then a movie that goes on floors in April next year. So, I’m not going to slow down anytime soon. Marriage will happen in its own time.

What’s the home production all about?

It’s under my production banner and has me and Vinay Pathak in it. It’s called Challo Dilli.

What sort of a movie is this one?

It’s actually quite difficult to slot….it’s a satire, of course.

And what’s the production house called?

Bheegi Basanti Films.

Bheegi Basanti…Really?

Yup. I know it’s just too filmy, but it just popped into my head one day and I loved it.

We love it too. But what sort of a producer are you? Are you one of those – put that coffee down…it’s my money?

No. But I am a prudent and a smart producer. This is massively demanding – I’m acting, producing and doing a bunch of other things – just like the DVDs.

Oh yeah, the fitness DVDs.

I’ve been thinking about this ever since I got myself into the shape that I was in ten years ago at the Miss Universe contest…which, incidentally was the only time an Indian ever won the best body award. Ninety per cent of the fan mail I get since Blue ask me about how I got into that shape.

Hmm (we will never admit it, but we saw Blue and she looked kick ass in it). But you do know there are bound to be comparisons with other actresses who have also released DVDs?

Yeah. I know there will be a comparison with the DVDs Shilpa and Bipasha have released and I’m fine with that. Bipasha, I know for a fact, is very passionate about her fitness. But my DVDs are about my philosophy.

So what’s your take on size zero – we’re psychotically running after it even though the West has gotten over its obsession? Curves are completely disappearing in India…as a man it’s very disheartening…we even wrote a story about it.

Exactly. We’ve always been behind the West. While we’re going super skinny, they’re already embracing curves. I’m 5ft 8 I’ve never been a size zero and I’ll never be. I’m curvy and that’s my USP.

(We think about saying something inappropriate but images of Mahesh standing with a stained red tennis racket rush through the head). Ummm so, do you think there is a male size zero?

Oh god, I hope not. Even if there is, I pray I never find out.

Ok, two more questions.

You said two questions three questions ago.

Just a little journalistic exaggeration.

Ha ha. Fine.

So, what’s your favourite kind of international cinema? We wouldn’t ask Indian because you’re going to say some really old movie like everyone else.

I liked Gone With the Wind. Actually, I’m a massive Leonardo DiCaprio fan – I loved him in The Departed and Blood Diamond – actually I love him in all the movies he’s not played DiCaprio in. Titanic was probably his worst movie.

What about Richie and Tarantino – are you a fan?

I like Richie. I loved Lock, Stock and Holmes…but not Rock N Rolla and the rest of his best stuff not so much.

(Our heart sinks) What about Tarantino?

Well, Pulp Fiction and all are cult movies. But I find the rest of his movies too grisly. And, his last one…

Inglorious Basterds?

Yeah. I loved the German SAS officer, but I think Brad Pitt was the worst thing in the movie.

(Things are looking up again. We toy with the idea of asking whether we can come over with a DVD to re-introduce her to Tarantino – when that thought of Mahesh and the bloody racket comes flashing in).

From the October 2010 issue of FHM India.